BY-LAWS, RULES OF PROCEDURE 245:15-3
Effective May 17, 2010
CHAPTER 15. LICENSURE AND PRACTICE OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS AND LAND SURVEYORS
SUBCHAPTER 3. APPLICATION AND ELIGIBILITY FOR LICENSURE
245:15-3-1. Availability of forms and Board records
Applications required to be submitted to the Board are available at the Board office and other locations as deemed appropriate by the Board. Completed applications, with all attachments and the required fee, when received by the Board will be entered into the Board records.
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245:15-3-2. Documents required for licensure
(a) Every individual applying for a license shall submit an application, which shall be the printed forms furnished by the Board or forms located on the Board's website, accompanied by the applicable fees.
(b) All information filled in on the application forms must be typewritten or computer generated. In case there is not sufficient room on the form to present all the subject matter necessary, the applicant shall set forth the additional information on additional sheets of plain white paper, 8 1/2" x 11" in size. Such sheets shall be typewritten or computer generated on one side only, shall be marked and numbered consecutively and in series with the regular pages of the application.
(c) An affidavit certifying the truthfulness of the statements in the application shall constitute a part of each application.
(d) An applicant shall request the university or college from which credit has been obtained to forward directly to the Board a properly certified university or college transcript showing all academic work.
(e)All application forms and information furnished thereon and all examinations and answers thereto shall be entirely in the English language.
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245:15-3-3. Non-resident applications for original licensure
The Board will receive and process non-resident applications for original license of an applicant who is a graduate of an Oklahoma university or college or an applicant who is an Oklahoma certified engineer intern. All other applicants for original license must be an Oklahoma resident.
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245:15-3-4. Board action required
(a) Individual comity applicants meeting the requirements of a "Oklahoma Model Law Engineer" as defined in these regulations and the application for Certificate of Authorization of the firm for which the comity applicant is in responsible charge, may be approved by the Principal Assistant and Executive Director. Certificate of Authorization applications for firms in which the responsible charge engineer or surveyor is a currently licensed engineer and/or surveyor in Oklahoma may also be approved by the Principal Assistant and Executive Director. All other applications for Professional Engineer, Professional Land Surveyor and Certificate of Authorization submitted for a license shall be first considered by the Board for approval or disapproval .
(b) Intern applications for admission to the fundamentals examination(s) may be approved by the Executive Director or Principal Assistant.
(c) The Board shall approve or disapprove applications for certification as an Engineer Intern or Land Surveyor Intern.
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245:15-3-5. Application deadlines
(a) Professional Engineer, Professional Land Surveyor, Engineer Intern and Land Surveyor Intern applications for initial license or certification may be made at any time. Cut-off dates for receiving applications will be set out in a policy of the Board and circulated with application information. If an application is received following the cut-off date the application will be continued to the next examination scheduled.
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245:15-3-6. Active and inactive applications
(a) Incomplete applications will be withdrawn from consideration by the Board after one year from the date submitted to the Board and a new and complete application shall be required from an applicant seeking licensure.
(b) An applicant's application will be closed after a fourth failure of any NCEES examination, regardless of the jurisdiction in which the examination is administered. An applicant's application will also be closed after a fourth failure of the Oklahoma Law and Surveying examination. An applicant shall file a new and complete application for re-examination, to include evidence of additional education, knowledge or skill sufficient to materially improve the applicant's qualifications for re-examination.
(c) If an applicant requests that the applicant's application be withdrawn from consideration, the Board will reject the application. Any further consideration will require a new and complete application and fee.
(d) An applicant who fails to attend an examination for which they have been scheduled will forfeit the fee paid for the examination, except in the case of illness, death in the family, or other unavoidable causes for absence where the fee will be applied to the next test administration. Failure of an applicant to attend an examination for which they have been scheduled to attend does not count as a failure of the examination.
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245:15-3-7. Qualifications for engineer licensure
To be eligible for consideration for licensure as a Professional Engineer or certification as an Engineer Intern, the applicant must be of good character and reputation. Applicants must meet all qualifications as contained within the Statutes and the Rules of the Board. Applications shall be individually reviewed by the Board. Evidence of minimum qualifications is required by the Board in accordance with the following:
(1) Engineer Intern:
(A) Graduation and Examination - A graduate of an EAC/ABET accredited engineering program of four (4) years or more, or an engineering program of four (4) years or more determined by the Board to be substantially equivalent to an EAC/ABET accredited engineering program in the United States, or an applicant who has completed ninety (90) semester hours or more of academic requirements towards such degree for graduation, shall be admitted to a Board approved NCEES examination in the fundamentals of engineering. Upon passing such examination and providing proof of graduation, the applicant shall be certified as an engineer intern, if otherwise qualified.
(B) Alternative Graduation, Experience, and Examination – A graduate of a related science program other than those approved in 245:15-3-7(1)(A) or an applicant who has completed ninety (90) semester hours or more of academic requirements towards such degree for graduation shall be admitted to a Board approved NCEES examination on the fundamentals of engineering. Upon passing such an examination, providing proof of a specific record of one year or more of progressive engineering experience in engineering projects of a grade and character satisfactory to the Board, the applicant shall be certified as an engineer intern, if otherwise qualified. No examination shall be administered following July 1, 2020, for applicants applying under this Section of the Rules for licensure as a Professional Engineer who do not meet these educational requirements eve if the applicant's application was approved by the Board prior to July 1, 2016.
(C) A graduate of a four (4) year degree program in a science not considered an equivalent engineering or a related science degree by the Board must complete twelve (12) hours of graduate level courses towards a Masters Degree in engineering from an institution with a comparable EAC/ABET accredited undergraduate engineering program before being considered for approval as a related science degree by the Board. Following completion of the undergraduate degree program and twelve (12) hours of graduate level courses towards the Masters Degree, the graduate shall be admitted to a Board approved NCEES examination in the fundamentals of engineering. Upon passing such examination, completing the required additional education towards a Masters Degree in engineering, and providing proof of a specific record of one year or more of progressive engineering experience in engineering projects of a grade and character satisfactory to the Board, the applicant shall be certified as an Engineer Intern, if otherwise qualified.
(D) Foreign degrees not determined by the Board to be substantially equivalent to an EAC/ABET accredited engineering degree may be considered following a degree evaluation by an evaluation service approved by the Board. The maximum equivalency granted for all foreign degrees, except those determined to be substantially equivalent to an EAC/ABET accredited engineering degree, shall be that of a related science degree.
(2) Professional Engineer (original license):
(A) Graduation, Experience, and Examination – A graduate of an EAC/ABET accredited engineering program of four (4) years or more, or an engineering program of four (4) years or more determined by the Board to be substantially equivalent to an EAC/ABET accredited engineering program in the United States, and following the date of degree a specific record of an additional four (4) years or more of progressive experience on engineering projects of a grade and character which indicates to the Board that the applicant may be competent to practice engineering, shall be admitted to a Board approved NCEES examination in the fundamentals of engineering, and, if passed, then shall be admitted to a Board approved NCEES examination in the principles and practice of engineering. Upon passing such examinations, the applicant shall be granted a certificate of licensure to practice engineering in this state, if otherwise qualified.
(B) Alternative Graduation, Experience and Education -
(i) A graduate holding a related science degree other than those approved in 245:15-3-7(2)(A) and following the date of degree a specific record of six (6) years or more of progressive experience on engineering projects of a grade and character which indicates to the Board that the applicant may be competent to practice engineering, shall be admitted to a Board approved NCEES examination on the fundamentals of engineering, and if passed, then shall be admitted to an eight-hour written examination in the principles and practice of engineering. Upon passing such examination, the applicant shall be granted a certificate of licensure to practice engineering in the state, if otherwise qualified. No examination shall be administered following July 1, 2020, for applicants applying under this Section of the Rules for licensure as a Professional Engineer who do not meet these education requirements even if the applicant's application was approved by the Board prior to July 1, 2016.
(ii) A graduate of a four (4) year degree in a science, not considered an equivalent engineering or a related science degree by the Board, must complete twelve (12) hours of graduate level courses towards a Masters Degree in engineering from an institution with a comparable EAC/ABET accredited undergraduate engineering program before being considered for approval as a related science degree by the Board. Following completion of the undergraduate degree program and twelve (12) hours of graduate level courses towards the Masters Degree in engineering, the graduate shall be admitted to a Board approved NCEES examination in the fundamentals of engineering and if passed shall be admitted then shall be admitted to a Board approved NCEES examination in the principles and practice of engineering. Upon passing such examinations, completing the required additional education towards the Masters Degree in engineering, and providing proof of a specific record of six years or more of progressive engineering experience in engineering projects of a grade and character satisfactory to the Board, the applicant shall be granted a certificate of licensure to practice engineering in this state, if otherwise qualified.
(iii) Foreign degrees not determined by the Board to be substantially equivalent to an EAC/ABET engineering degree may be considered following a degree evaluation by an evaluation service approved by the Board, however maximum equivalency granted shall be that of a related science degree.
(C) Experience credit may be claimed to the date of the application. Experience record is to be continuous from beginning to the date of the application. Experience time shall not exceed elapsed calendar time. Applications with insufficient experience will be rejected by the Board. Only experience obtained directly within the professional field will be considered as qualifying experience by the Board and must be verified. Experience should be gained under the supervision of a licensed professional engineer or, if not, an explanation should be made showing why the experience should be considered acceptable. Experience gained under the technical supervision of an unlicensed individual may be considered if the appropriate credentials of the unlicensed supervisor are submitted and approved by the Board. The following areas of experience will be considered creditable if the experience involves the application of engineering principles.:
(i) Evaluation, selection and application of standard engineering techniques, procedures and criteria, using judgment in making adaptations and modifications.
(ii) Engineering research and development.
(iii) Plan, design and analysis of engineering projects, systems and/or manufactured products.
(iv) Construction of engineering projects or systems .
(v) Applications and operational analysis of engineering projects, systems or facilities.
(vi) Teaching in a college or university offering an approved program of four (4) years or more of advanced engineering subjects and related courses.
(D) A maximum of six (6) months experience may be allowed for successful completion of an EAC/ABET accredited engineering cooperative education program with work experience meeting (2)(A) of this Sections.
(E) Concurrent time, that is, time spent in engineering work while attending school will be credited either as education experience or work experience but not both.
(F) Applicants, applying under (2)(A), (2)(B)(I), or (2)(B)(iii), who successfully complete graduate study leading to a Master's Degree in engineering may be awarded one (1) year's experience provided that at the time the Master's Degree in engineering was awarded the institution had a bachelor's level EAC/ABET accredited engineering program of four (4) years or more or an engineering program of four (4) years or more determined by the Board to be substantially equivalent to an EAC/ABET accredited engineering program. If a Ph.D. in engineering is completed under the same conditions, two years total experience may be awarded. The two years awarded include the one year awarded for the master's degree. If the Ph.D. in engineering is completed under the same conditions but without the master's degree in engineering which does not follow an EAC/ABET accredited engineering curriculum of four (4) years or more or an engineering curriculum of four (4) years or more recognized by the ABET Washington Accord Agreement, one year of experience may be awarded for the combined master's degree and Ph.D.
(G) Accredited engineering programs of six (6) years or more which confer a masters of science in engineering without first conferring a bachelor of science in engineering may be accepted under 2(A) and may be allowed the additional one year of engineering experience under 2(F) of this section.
(H) Applicants shall submit a minimum of five (5) references, three (3) of whom shall be Professional Engineers having personal knowledge of the applicant's engineering experience, none of whom may be current members of the Board. These references should verify the periods of experience since the beginning of the history, leaving no gaps in dates. The Board cannot give credit for engineering experience that has not been verified by one or more references.
(I) When the requirements of the Statutes and of this Chapter are met, the applicant shall be admitted to, and must pass, an examination covering the laws, rules, procedures and practices pertaining to engineering in the state of Oklahoma.
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245:15-3-8. Qualifications for land surveyor licensure
To be eligible for consideration for licensure as a Professional Land Surveyor or certification as a Land Surveyor Intern, an applicant must be of good character and reputation. Evidence of minimum qualifications is required by the Board in accordance with the following requirements:
(1) Land Surveyor Intern:
(A) A graduate of a surveying program of four (4) years or more approved by the Board, or an applicant who has completed sixty (60) semester hours or more of academic requirements for graduation, shall be admitted to a Board approved NCEES examination in the fundamentals of surveying. Upon passing such examination and providing proof of graduation, the applicant shall be certified as a Land Surveyor Intern, if otherwise qualified.
(B) A graduate of a surveying program of two (2) years or more approved by the Board, or an applicant who has completed forty-five (45) semester hours or more of academic requirements for graduation from a two-year surveying program approved by the Board shall be admitted to an eight-hour written examination in the fundamentals of surveying. Upon passing such examination and providing proof of graduation the applicant shall be certified as a Land Surveyor Intern, if otherwise qualified.
(C) A graduate of other academic programs of two (2) years or more approved by the Board, which shall include the Board-approved Core Curriculum in surveying, or an applicant who has completed forty-five (45) semester hours or more of academic requirements for graduation, including twenty-one (21) semester hours or more of the Core Curriculum, from another academic program of two (2) years or more approved by the Board, shall be admitted to a Board approved NCEES examination in the fundamentals of surveying. Upon passing such examination, providing proof of graduation and providing proof of a specific record of one year or more of progressive experience satisfactory to the Board on land surveying projects of a grade and character which indicates to the Board that the applicant may be competent to practice land surveying, the applicant shall be certified as a Land Surveyor Intern, if otherwise qualified.
(D) An applicant who provides proof of completion of sixty (60) credit hours approved by the Board, which shall include the Board-approved Core Curriculum in surveying, or an applicant who has completed forty-five (45) semester hours or more of academic requirements for graduation, including twenty-one (21) semester hours or more of the Core Curriculum, shall be admitted to a Board approved NCEES examination in the fundamentals of surveying. Upon passing such examination and providing proof of completion of the educational requirements and a specific record of one year or more of progressive experience satisfactory to the Board on land surveying projects of a grade and character which indicates to the Board that the applicant may be competent to practice land surveying, the applicant shall be certified as a Land Surveyor Intern, if otherwise qualified.
(2) Professional Land Surveyor (original license):
(A) Graduation, Experience, and Examination:
(i) A graduate of a surveying program of four (4) years or more approved by the Board and a specific record of four (4) years or more of progressive combined office and field experience satisfactory to the Board on land surveying projects of a grade and character which indicates to the Board that the applicant may be competent to practice land surveying, of which no less than two (2) years experience must be following the date of the degree, who has also passed a Board approved NCEES examination in the fundamentals of surveying shall be admitted to a six-hour written examination in the principles and practice of surveying and an Oklahoma Law and Surveying written examination. Upon passing such examinations, the applicant shall be granted a certificate of licensure to practice land surveying in this state, if otherwise qualified.
(ii) A graduate of a surveying program of two (2) years or more approved by the Board and a specific record of six (6) years or more of progressive combined office and field experience satisfactory to the Board on land surveying projects of a grade and character which indicates to the Board that the applicant may be competent to practice land surveying and who has also passed a Board approved NCEES examination in the fundamentals of surveying , shall be admitted to a Board approved NCEES examination in the principles and practice of surveying and an Oklahoma Law and Surveying examination. Upon passing such examinations, the applicant shall be granted a certificate of licensure to practice land surveying in this state, if otherwise qualified.
(B) Alternative Graduation, Experience and Examination:
(i) A graduate of other academic programs of two (2) years or more, approved by the Board, which shall include the Board-approved Core Curriculum in surveying and a specific record of six (6) years or more of progressive combined office and field experience satisfactory to the Board on land surveying projects of a grade and character which indicates to the Board that the applicant may be competent to practice land surveying, who has also passed a Board approved NCEES examination in the fundamentals of surveying, shall be admitted to a Board approved NCEES examination in the principles and practice of surveying and an Oklahoma Law and Surveying written examination. Upon passing such examinations, the applicant shall be granted a certificate of licensure to practice land surveying in this state, if otherwise qualified.
(ii) An applicant who provides proof of completion of sixty (60) credit hours, approved by the Board, which shall include the Board-approved Core Curriculum in surveying, and a specific record of six (6) years or more of progressive combined office and field experience satisfactory to the Board on land surveying projects of a grade and character which indicates to the Board that the applicant may be competent to practice land surveying, who has also passed a Board approved NCEES examination in the fundamentals of surveying shall be admitted to a Board approved NCEES examination in the principles and practice of surveying and an Oklahoma Law and Surveying examination. Upon passing such examinations, the applicant shall be granted a certificate of licensure to practice land surveying in this state, if otherwise qualified.
(C) Long Established Practice and Examination:
(i) An applicant with a specific record of nine (9) years or more of practice in land surveying of a grade and character which indicates to the board that the applicant may be competent to practice surveying shall be admitted to an eight-hour written examination in the fundamentals of surveying, and, if passed, then shall be admitted to a six-hour written examination in the principles and practice of surveying and an Oklahoma Law and Surveying written examination. Upon passing such examinations, the applicant shall be granted a certificate of licensure to practice land surveying in this state, if otherwise qualified. Provided, after July 1, 2014, the record of practice in land surveying specified in this paragraph shall not be considered by the Board as minimum evidence that an applicant is qualified for licensure as a professional land surveyor. No examination shall be administered following July 1, 2014, for applicants applying under this section of the rules for licensure as a Professional Land Surveyor, even if the applicant's application was approved by the Board prior to July 1, 2014.
(D) Experience record may be claimed to the date of the application. Experience record is to be continuous from the beginning to the date of the application. Experience time shall not exceed elapsed calendar time. Applications with insufficient experience will be rejected by the Board. Only experience obtained directly within the land surveying area will be considered as qualifying experience by the Board. Experience should be gained under the supervision of a licensed professional surveyor, or if not, an explanation should be made showing why the experience should be considered acceptable. The following listed experience will be considered to be of a grade and character satisfactory to the Board.
(i) "Office experience" which includes, but is not limited to, land surveying activities, where the applicant:
(I) Assists in the planning, directing and analyzing necessary for the preparation of surveys, plats, and related documents.
(II) Reduces and evaluates land surveying data.
(III) Develops procedures and systems for the collection, reduction, adjustment and use of land surveying data.
(IV) Prepares data to be used by field surveyors or field crews.
(V) Coordinates the preparation and processing of maps, plats, reports, descriptions, or other documents.
(VI) Researches records to obtain survey and title data.
(VII) Performs boundary analysis and reconciles records and field evidence to identify boundary line's discrepancies.
(ii) "Field experience" which includes, but is not limited to, land surveying activities, where the applicant:
(I) Assists in determining field survey methods and procedures, including selection of accuracy standards.
(II) Selects or verifies that the correct control monumentation is used to establish the survey datums (horizontal and vertical) and selects "on the ground" locations for control monuments.
(III) Inspects monumentation in the field and/or examines field evidence for the determination and identification of physical evidence.
(IV) Reviews measurements observations with the responsibility for accuracy, completeness, and consistency.
(V) Reviews, determines procedures for and prepares field notes and records for proper application of field survey procedures.
(VI) Plans field checks, reviews field checks, and, based on such checks, determines if completed field survey plats are accurate and sufficient.
(VII) Searches for boundary and control monuments; assists in analyzing field evidence; compares record data to found physical evidence; compares record data to measured data, documents discrepancies; assists in acquiring and documenting testimony regarding boundary locations; recommends boundary locations and/or establishment; selects or verifies that the correct controlling monuments are used to locate or establish boundary points and lines.
(VIII) Recommends when existing boundary monuments are to be replaced; selects the methods to be used for replacing and resetting monuments.
(IX) Functions as a "party chief," "chief of parties," or lead person in charge of field surveyors or field crews performing land surveying services of a grade and character satisfactory to the Board.
(E) Applicants shall submit a minimum of five (5) references, at least three (3) of whom shall be Professional Land Surveyors having personal knowledge of the applicant's land surveying experience and none of whom may be current members of the Board. These references should verify the periods of experience since the beginning of the history, leaving no gaps in dates. Comity applicants who obtained their original license more than ten years prior must list all surveying experience obtained since their original license, but shall only be required to verify the most recent ten years of experience. The Board cannot give credit for surveying experience that has not been verified by one or more references.
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245:15-3-9. Licensure by comity or endorsement
(a) Applicant for comity or endorsement license shall provide proof that the applicant is a person holding a Professional Engineer or Land Surveyor license, in good standing, issued by a proper authority.
(b) Applicant must have been licensed, based on requirements that do not conflict with the provisions of the Statutes and Rules of the Board and were of a standard not lower than that specified in the applicable Statute in effect in Oklahoma at the time such certificate was issued.
(c) Applicant shall submit a minimum of five (5) references, three (3) of whom shall be Professional Engineers or Land Surveyors having personal knowledge of the applicant's engineering or surveying experience, none of whom may be current members of the Board. Comity applicants who obtained their original license more than ten years prior must list all engineering and/or surveying experience obtained since their original license, but shall only be required to verify the most recent ten years of experience.
(d) An applicant with less than the standards outlined in subsection (b) of this section, may be required to obtain additional experience or be admitted to a fundamentals examination, or be admitted to a principles and practice examination, or an examination on Oklahoma land surveying and related laws, or an examination on Oklahoma law and engineering, or to meet such experience and examination requirements as the Board may determine to establish the applicant's qualifications.
(e) Upon satisfactorily complying with minimum requirements of this section, the applicant shall be licensed in the State of Oklahoma.
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245:15-3-10. Temporary Permits
The Executive Director or Principal Assistant shall be authorized to issue a Temporary Permit to an engineer, subject to the approval of the Board, under the following conditions:
(1) An applicant for a Temporary Permit shall have a valid license in the applicant's resident state or jurisdiction, shall submit a complete permanent professional engineer application to this Board within 30 days of the date of issuance of the temporary permit, and the information provided by the applicant on the application form approved by the Board does not disclose a prima facie violation of any provision of Sections 475.1 et seq of the laws of the state of Oklahoma or the rules of this Board; has not been disciplined in any jurisdiction by a Board of licensure for either engineering or land surveying or architecture; has not been convicted in any jurisdiction of a felony or misdemeanor which is non-traffic related.
(2) An applicant who is granted a Temporary Permit, but fails to submit their complete permanent professional engineer application within the prescribed period of time, may be considered to be in violation of the Rules of this Board.
(3) Information relative to a license in the other state or jurisdiction shall be verified before issuance of a Temporary Permit.
(4) The Temporary Permit fee as prescribed by law shall be remitted with the application.
(5) A Temporary Permit shall be issued for a definite period of time not to exceed 120 days, for a specifically described single work project in one location as set out in the application form and may not be renewed or extended.
(6) A Temporary Permit shall expire the earliest of the issuance of the permanent professional engineer license by this Board, the rejection of the application for licensure, or a time limit stated in the temporary permit, but not later than 120 days after issuance.
(7) The holder of a Temporary Permit shall seal plans, specifications, surveys, or documents only in accordance with the Statutes and Rules of this Board. The seal used shall be the holder's license seal of the state on which issuance of the Temporary Permit was based and immediately under the seal the following shall be inserted:
Oklahoma Temporary Permit number ___________
Date of issue _____________________________
Date of expiration _________________________
Signature of holder _________________________
(8) No person may be issued more than one (1) temporary permit.
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